Champions Cup pool-by-pool guide: Irish ambitions and likely European champions

The elite European rugby competition gets underway this weekend. 

EYES ON THE PRIZE: The Champions Cup trophy. Pic: INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Deon van der Merwe

POOL 1

LEINSTER, Glasgow Warriors, Pau, Sale Sharks, Leicester Tigers, Clermont Auvergne.

Pool Fixtures: Rd 1 - Oct 17: Sale v Glasgow, 1pm; Clermont v Leinster, 3.15; Oct 18: Pau v Leicester, 1pm; Rd 2 – Dec 11: Glasgow v Pau, 8pm; Dec 12: Leicester v Clermont, 3.15; Leinster v Sale, 5.30; Rd 3 – Jan 8: Glasgow v Leicester, 8pm; Jan 9: Leinster v Pau, 5.30; Jan 10: Sale v Clermont, 5.30; Rd 4 – Jan 16: Pau v Sale, 1pm; Clermont v Glasgow, 8pm; Leicester v Leinster, 8pm.

Form Guide: Leinster’s season got some belated lift-off after back-to-back losses in South Africa, beating Cardiff in the first game at Laya Arena. They currently sit 10th in the table with pool and league rivals Glasgow in second with two wins from three. The return of Leinster’s internationals last weekend has helped the URC champs to gather momentum ahead of their trip to Clermont, currently 11th in the French Top 14 with two wins from their first six. Off to a much better start in France are Pau, who visit Dublin in January. With five wins from six they trail league leaders Toulouse by two points and will relish the visit of Leicester to Stade du Hameau first up on Sunday. The Tigers have rebounded from an opening round Prem loss at home to Saracens with wins at Newcastle and home over Gloucester to move to fourth in the English league, two points ahead of Sale, whom Leinster welcome in round two in December, after three domestic matches.

Key Fixture: Leinster versus Pau in round three on January 9 looks to be pivotal in enabling last season’s losing finalists to secure home advantage for the knockout rounds as they continue their chase for a fifth European star.

Ones To Watch: The French production line of talent is to the fore in Pau and Clermont with Leinster’s first opponents led by former France Under-20 scrum-half Baptiste Jauneau, now 23, while Pau could unleash rising centre Fabien Brau-Boirie alongside established yet still only 23 France midfielder Emilien Gailleton.

Verdict: Leinster to progress as winners alongside either Glasgow or Pau.

POOL 2

Stade Toulousain, Lions, Saracens, Stade Rochelais, Exeter Chiefs, CONNACHT.

Pool Fixtures: Rd 1 - Oct 17: Connacht v Saracens, 5.30; La Rochelle v Lions, 5.30; Sun 18: Toulouse v Exeter, 3.15; Rd 2 – Dec 12: Lions v Toulouse, 1pm; Saracens v La Rochelle, 5.30 ; Dec 13: Exeter v Connacht, 1pm; Rd 3 – Jan 9: Exeter v La Rochelle, 3.15; Connacht v Toulouse, 8pm; Jan 10: Saracens v Lions, 3.15 Rd 4 – Jan 16: Lions v Exeter, 1pm; La Rochelle v Connacht, 5.30; Jan 17: Toulouse v Saracens, 3.15.

Form Guide: Five-time champions Toulouse come into this European campaign on top of France’s Top 14 having not lost since their opening-round visit to La Rochelle on September 6. Ronan O’Gara’s Rochelais. Also in this pool, sit fourth in the league with four wins from six.

Connacht, though, have struggled for early-season momentum with their one win from three URC matches coming at Benetton in round two, in between a home loss to Stormers and last weekend’s defeat at Glasgow Warriors. The chief English threat should come from Saracens, who visit Galway this Saturday evening, having reached third in the Prem with two wins from three.

Key Fixture: With Toulouse ever confident of reaching the knockout stages, La Rochelle’s visit to Saracens in round two, a meeting of former multiple champions, could determine who progresses alongside Antoine Dupont and co.

Ones To Watch: Saracens’ teenage wing Noah Calouri has already caught England boss Steve Borthwick’s eye and has a huge future ahead of him while Toulouse Kalvin Gourges could be the next big thing out of French rugby’s top finishing school.

Verdict: A French one-two in Pool 2, with Saracens favourite to progress alongside as a best third-place finisher.

POOL 3

Union Bordeaux Begles, Stormers, Racing 92, MUNSTER, Bristol Bears, Gloucester.

Fixtures: R1 - Oct 16: Gloucester v Bordeaux, 8pm; Oct 17: Stormers v Bristol, 3.15; Munster v Racing 92, 8pm; Rd 2 – Dec 12: Bristol v Munster, 8pm; Dec 13: Bordeaux v Stormers, 3.15; Racing 92 v Gloucester, 5.30; Rd 3 – Jan 9: Gloucester v Stormers, 1pm; Jan 10: Racing 92 v Bristol, 1pm; Bordeaux v Munster, 3.15; Rd 4 – Jan 16: Stormers v Racing 92, 3.15; Munster v Gloucester, 5.30; Jan 17: Bristol v Bordeaux, 3.15.

Form Guide: Back-to-back defending European champions UBB, with their star-studded backline and heavyweight pack remain the team to beat and not just in Pool 3 after a solid start to their Top 14 campaign with four wins from six. Bristol have been erratic in the Prem so far, electric when beating champions Northampton 41-26 at Ashton Gate in round two but dismal in defeat last weekend at Saracens. So too, on paper at least, have been Munster, with a home loss and win followed by a draw at Ulster in the URC so far, though there are definite green shoots in performances constructed without injured chief playmaker Jack Crowley. The visit of Racing 92, currently struggling in the Top 14, could be an opportunity to get early momentum in this pool, if they can handling Parisian power.

Key Fixture: Bordeaux’s visit to Bristol in round four on January 17 could be an absolute belter of a spectacle but the champions’ hosting of Stormers at Stade Chaban-Delmas for a round two clash on December 13 could be the pivotal fixture.

Ones To Watch: Munster academy fly-half Charlie O’Shea has been thrown in at the deep end so early in his pro career but has impressed in his initial outings with a maturity beyond his 20 years. Also look out this weekend for Racing scrum-half Leo Carbonneau, a 21-year-old who appears to be the Parisian club’s big bet for the future.

Verdict: UBB to take the pool top spot and a wide-open race for who joins them. Munster are up against it but they could just surprise if they get off to a winning start at Páirc Uí Chaoimh this weekend.

POOL 4

Northampton Saints, Bath, Cardiff, Montpellier, Stade Francais, Bulls.

Fixtures: Rd 1 - Oct 17: Bulls v Stade Francais, 1pm; Bath v Montpellier, 8pm; Oct 18: Northampton v Cardiff, 5.30; Rd 2 – Dec 11: Stade Francais v Northampton, 8pm; Dec 12: Montpellier v Bulls, 3.15; Cardiff v Bath, 8pm; Rd 3 – Jan 9: Bulls v Bath, 3.15; Montpellier v Northampton, 5.30; Stade Francais v Cardiff, 8pm; Rd 4 – Jan 15: Northampton v Bulls, 8pm; Cardiff v Montpellier, 8pm; Jan 16: Bath v Stade Francais, 5.30 

Form Guide: English champions Northampton and their Prem rivals Bath will be the teams to beat in Pool 4 with both French clubs Montpellier and Stade Francais off to middling starts in the Top 14. The verdict on South Africa’s Bulls is still out as far as European competition is concerned but they could prove to be disruptors here.

Key Fixture: Bulls v Bath at altitude in Loftus Versfeld is intriguing in round three on January 9 as Johann van Graan brings his English heavyweights to his hometown club with qualification potentially on offer for both sides.

Ones To Watch: Saints scrum-half Archie McParland is giving established England number nine Alex Mitchell a run for his money for the Northampton starting jersey, bringing a high-tempo game to an exciting backline that has the potential to run riot in the pool stages. Also keep a look out for Montpellier’s explosive former French Under-20 standout back row Lenni Nouchi.

Verdict: Northampton to go marching in to the knockout stages alongside Bath, with Montpellier and Bulls also fancying their chances of progressing.